Window-sash balance.



H. E. FRANKS & A. GEERDTS. v

1,006,643. Patented Oct. 24, 1911.

COLUMBIA PLANOflkAPn 20.,WA5HlhuTON; D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY E. FRANKS AND ALBERT GEERDTS, OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA; SAID GEERDTS ASSIGNOR TO SAID FRANKS.

WINDOW-SASH BALANCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 24, 1911.

Application filed February 2, 1911. Serial No. 806,223.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HENRY E. FRANKS and ALBERT Gunners, citizens of the United States, residing at Berkeley, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in lVindow-Sash Balances, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a window-sash balance, and particularly pertains toa means for balancing slidalole vertically hung windows.

It is the object of this invention to provide a device for balancing a window-sash which is simple in construction and economical in manufacture, which can be quickly and easily installed and which occupies but small space.

A further object is to provide a substitute for the balance weights now commonly employed in window construction, which, by reason of the space required for their operation, are in many cases objectionable.

The invention consists of the partsand the construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accom panying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a window with parts broken away showing the invention as applied. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the invention. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of same. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a modified form of the invention partly in section.

In the drawings A and B rep-resent the upper and lower sashes respectively of the ordinary double hung window, these sashes sliding in the usual frame C and separated from each other by a parting bead as is common in this type of window construction. Sash cords 22 are attached to the upper ends of the side portions of each sash AB in any suitable manner, which cords extend upward through perforations in the head of the frame G into a space 3 thereabo-ve, and pass over direction pulleys 14. The ends of the cords .22' are attached to the periphery of a drum or reel at diametrically opposite points, as shown in Fig. 2, in such manner that when the drum is revolved both cords 22 will wind thereon or unwind therefrom simultaneously when the sash is raised or lowered. This reel or drum is constructed as shown in section in Figs. 2 and 4, the drum proper consisting of a hollow cylindrical member 5 rigidly mounted on an end plate 6, on which a hub is centrally formed.

A loose end plate 6, corresponding to the plate 6, is placed against the other end of the cvlinder 5 and has lugs 7 on its inner face which project into notches on the edge of the cylinder 5. The end plates 66 extend beyond the outer face of the cylinder 5 and form the side flanges of the reel, and are adapted to be revolub-ly mounted on a shaft 8 which extends through the hubs formed on the plates 6-6 and is supported at its outer ends on stirrups 9 pivoted on standards 9; these standards rising from a base plate 10 and disposed in contact with the plates 66. The shaft 8 is in the form of a cotter-pin, that is, split a portion. of its leiagth and provided with an eye at its outer en Vound on the interior of the drum 5 is a coil spring 11, the outer end of which is secured to the drum in any suitable manner, the inner end of the spring 11 being bent so as to pass through the slot in the shaft 8. From this it will be seen that the spring 11 may be wound on the shaft 8 by revolving the latter and holding the drum against rot-ation.

Means are provided for facilitating the rotation of the shaft 8 to wind the spring 11 and for preventing its being rotated by the spring 11 when the latter is wound thereon under tension. This means consists of a pin 12, which is inserted through the eye in the end of the shaft 8. This pin affords a hand-hold by which the shaft 8 may be ro tated, and, when the spring 11 is sufficiently wound, provides means for preventing the shaft- 8 from beingrotated, the pin 12 then being engaged by a link 13 attached to the plate 10, as shown in Fig. 8, or a pin 12 may be inserted in a pocket 14. formed on the standard 9, as shown in Fig. 4.

The spring 11 being wound on the shaft 8 under tension, and the latter being in a fixed position, the drum 5 will tend to rotate by reason of the circumferential pull of the spring 11. This pull of the spring 11 is transmitted through the drum 5 to the cords 22 and tends to wind the latter on the drum. By adjusting the tension of the spring 11, through the shaft 8, so that the upward pull on the cords 22' will balance the downward pull of the weight of the window sash A-B, the sash will be sus tained in any position it is placed in the frame C, the spring 11 thus counterbalancing the sash.

The suspended mounting of the drum or reel from the pivoted stirrups 9 is for the purpose of equalizing the pull on the cords 2-2". These cords 22, winding as they do in a number of coils on the reel, sometimes wind unevenly so that one cord would be apt to slack while the weight of the sash would be thrown on the other, but by suspending the drum it is free to swing so that the cords will be constantly kept taut. The standards 9 are slotted at 15, through which slots the shaft 8 extends, the slots being curved on a radius from the center of the pivotal point of the stirrups 9 to admit of the oscillating movement of the latter. In some instances the stirrups 9 may be dis pensed with, in which event the shaft 8 will be mounted-on the standards 9, as shown in Fig. 4.

From the foregoing it is apparent that when the sash AB is raised, the spring 11 in recoiling will cause the cords to wind on the drum and that when the sash is pulled downward, the'cords 22 will cause the drum 5 to rotate 'to rewind the spring on the shaft 8.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is a 1. A window-sash balance, comprising a reel, a shaft on which the reel is revolubly mounted, a swinging support for the shaft, a coil spring disposed between the reel and the shaft and windable on the latter, said spring being adapted to rotate the reel by unwinding from the shaft, means for rotating said shaft to adjust the tension of the spring, and 'means for locking the shaft against rotation.

2. The combination with a window-sash and frame, of cords attached to each vertical. edge of the sash, a reel on which said cords are wound in the same direction, a shaft on which said reel is revolubly mounted, a swinging support for the shaft, and a coil spring wound on the shaft and attached to the reel, said spring adapted to rotate the reel to wind the cords thereon when the weight of the sash is removed therefrom.

3. The combination with a window-sash and frame, of cords attached to each vertical edge of the sash, a reel on which said cords are wound in the same direction, a shaft on which said reel is revolubly mounted, a

swinging support for the shaft, a coil spring I wound on the shaft and attached to the reel, said spring adapted to rotate the reel to Wind the cords thereon when the weight of the sash is removed therefrom, means for rotating said shaft to adjust the tension of the cylinder, a shaft upon which said end plates are revolubly mounted, said plates extending beyond the periphery of the cylinder to form side flanges, a swinging hanger for the shaft, and a coil spring wound on and connected to said shaft inside of said cylinder, one end of said spring attached to said cylinder.

5. A window-sash balance embodying a hollow cylindrical member, an end plate integral wit-h one end of the cylinder, a loose end plate interlocked with the other end of the cylinder, a shaft upon which said end plates are revolubly mounted, said plates extending beyond the periphery of the cylinder to form side flanges, a swinging hanger for the shaft, a coil spring wound on and connected to said shaft inside of said cylinder, one end of said spring attached to said cylinder, said spring adapted to unwind from the shaft to rotate said cylinder, means for rotating said shaft to adjust the tension of the spring, and means for locking the shaft against rotation.

6. A window-sash balance, comprising a reel, a shaft on which the reel is revolubly mounted, and a coil spring disposed between the reel and the shaft and windable on the latter, said shaft mounted on swinging stirrups.

7. The combination with a window sash and frame, of cords attached to each vertical edge of the sash, a reel on which said cords are wound in the same direction, a shaft on v which said reel is revolubly mounted, a coil spring wound on the shaft and attached to the reel, said spring adapted to rotate the reel to wind the cords thereon when the weight of the sash is removed therefrom, means for rotating said shaft to adjust the tension of the spring, said means including a cross pin in the shaft, means engaging the cross pin for locking the shaft against rotation, and means by which the shaft is allowed a lateral swinging mavement.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two sub- I scribing witnesses.

HENRY E. FRANKS. ALBERT GEERDTS. Witnesses:

G. H. STRONG, J. H. HERRING.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

